title: [Epidemiologic and actual importance of entero-hemorrhagic E. coli in Northern Bavaria (1996)].
abstract: Following an epidemic occurrence of EHEC infections (1995-1996) Bavaria enacted legislation to survey EHEC. In consequence thereof there was an extraordinary increase in examinations for this pathogen at the Landesuntersuchungsamt für das Gesundheitswesen Nordbayern in Erlangen. Of 2712 stool specimens 2% were positive for EHEC. At first an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used in screening for Shiga toxin (Stx) 1 and 2. Because this EIA revealed a lack of specificity the PCR for amplification of sequences derived from Stx genes was set as screening test. Among 53 EHEC strains isolated by colony hybridisation 25 different serotypes could be identified. A complete virulence pattern (formation of Shiga toxins and EHEC haemolysin, presence of the eaeA gene) was detected in 3 of 4 strains from HUS patients (75%), in 14 of 17 enteritis cases (82.4%) and in 17 of 32 persons with asymptomatic carriage (53.1%). Besides the serotypes O157H- and O103H2 strains of the serotype 08 were isolated particularly frequently in certain regions of North Bavaria for limited periods. EHEC infections in North Bavaria are related to many serotypes that are mostly different from the O157 serotype. Especially in adults the clinical course is usually asymptomatic.
authors.affiliation: Landesuntersuchungsmt für das Gesundheitswesen Nordbayern, Erlangen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pulz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D014774:Virulence
vernacular_title: Zur Epidemiologie und aktuellen Bedeutung enterohämorrhagischer Escherichia coli (EHEC) in Nordbayern (1996).